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RECREATION City considers private rec center for Hawthorne Park A private company has proposed building a recreational center in the park and sharing it with the city Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Jun. 20, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Jun. 20, 2016 at 12:01 AM » RELATED CONTENT • Medford swim fans ask urban renewal board for indoor pool » Social News A proposal by a private company to build a recreation center in Hawthorne Park is being reviewed by Medford Parks and Recreation officials as a way to provide an indoor facility that could be used by the community. “It’s just a concept right now,” said Justin Carson, co-owner of Jackson County Physical Therapy. He said his business needs more space to offer sports therapy, and he saw an opportunity to develop something that could benefit the residents of Medford. During the day, Carson’s business would use the 10,000- to 15,000-square-foot gym and other recreational facilities, and then at night, the facility could be used by Medford Parks and Recreation for basketball, indoor soccer and other activities to provide a venue for local schools and clubs. “The idea is to help finish with the revitalization of Hawthorne Park,” Carson said. “It would create a space for city league sports and tournaments.” The proposed recreation center might feature physical therapy offices, an indoor soccer arena and a gymnasium. Carson said the existing parking lot would likely need to be expanded. Jackson County Physical Therapy is currently in a 4,400-square-foot building at 36 Hawthorne St., adjacent to Hawthorne Park. No plans have been devised for the facility, Carson said, but a draft agreement has been drawn up between the city and Medford Community Sports and Wellness LLC. Any agreement would have to be approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission and Medford City Council. The Recreation Commission will discuss the agreement Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. According to the agreement, the city would lease an area near Main Street in Hawthorne Park to Medford Community Sports and Wellness for $1 for 50 years. Carson’s business would need exclusive use of some parking spaces from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Brian Sjothun, Medford parks and recreation director, said the proposed facility would have to be contained in a footprint that would still allow for building an aquatics facility in the future. “The caveat for us is that it would be at no cost to the city, but we’d get to use the space at times for recreational programs,” Sjothun said. “We are woefully short of gymnasiums and spaces for indoor soccer programs.” Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Follow @@reporterdm Posted Jun. 20, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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